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Col des Portes

An article by Gérard Galland and Bernard Giraudeau (for the geology section)

Le Col des Portes FR-05-1835

Toponymy

Door is the name of many localities. The names of several communes begin with porte.
In the catalogue of French passes, the term porte (or portes) appears 147 times, including 9 cols des Portes.

Geographical location

Massif

The Col des Portes lies to the south of the Arves massif.

Geology 

The Col des Portes sits above a steep escarpment on the right bank of the Romanche, eroded over time by the river itself. The pass is located on a rounded ridge between the hamlets of Les Terrasses and Le Chazelet. This mossy ridge has been carved out by gullies on either side in limestone and shale. This part of the Arves massif is characterised by a vast network of mountain pastures.

More details for specialists:

http://www.geol-alp.com/h_oisans/_lieux/romanche/laGraveN.html

Hydrography

On either side of the pass, the water is tributary to tributaries of the Romanche. To the east, the Torrent des Clots, which joins the Romanche immediately below La Grave, and to the west, the Torrent du Ga, which flows into the Romanche at Les Fréaux after the Cascade du Saut de la Pucelle.

Access

From La GraveAs you head up the Romanche valley on the D1091 towards the Col du Lautaret, the D33 begins on the right as you exit the Serre du Coin tunnel (1506 m). It passes over the tunnel and then rises (to the left of the 1091) towards the hamlet of Ventalon, Les Terrasses and Le Chazelet.

The Col des Portes (1835 m) lies between the hamlet of Les Terrasses (1767 m) and Le Chazelet (1797 m).

Mountain biking: du Plateau d'Emparisyou can go down to Le Chazelet

• From the Col du Souchet (FR-05-2365) following the GR50 - GR54 via the Chalet de la Loge and close to the Plateau d'Emparis ski lift. (not very cycleable!!!).
• From the Col Saint Georges (FR-38-2245a), cycling via Chalet Josserand, Chalet Ougier and Chalet de la Grande Buffe.

What to see - tourism

At the pass

The Perch of the Chazelet oratory  Observation platform at the Col des Portes (just past the little oratory at Le Chazelet), from where you can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the valley.

Le Chazelet

Le Chazelet is a small village resort (4 ski lifts and 1 chairlift)

Administrative status

The Col des Portes is located in the commune of La Grave (Hautes Alpes).

History

On Friday 17 May 1974, between the two rounds of the 1974 presidential election, the candidate, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, then Minister for the Economy and Finance, chose Le Chazelet to "meet men and women in a French village".

Cycling and cycle tourism

As the road ends at Le Chazelet, the Col des Portes is not on the route of any cycle races or cycle tourism events.

But... it has not been forgotten by the members of the Club des 100 cols. Climbing it is a prerequisite for the Brevet des Cols Routiers des Hautes-Alpes ... and for this purpose it was the subject of an article in the CCC's 2024 magazine (pages 31 to 33).

Profile

From the Serre du Coin Tunnel to the Col des Portes: 4.2 km and D+: 292 m
From the Serre du Coin Tunnel to Le Chazelet: 5.2 km and D+: 305 m